Businessman Pleads Guilty To 89 VAT Fraud Charges

A businessman from Tobago, who admitted to charging the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Value Added Tax (VAT) without being registered with the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR), as well as using a VAT registration number on the invoices tendered of another company was been fined $89,000 and $100,000 respectively.

The charges relate to 89 invoices submitted to the THA for goods supplied to its Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities over the past two years.

The owner of Trinbago General Supplies and Services, pleaded guilty to 89 counts of VAT fraud in the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court. He was also ordered to repay the $189,000 in VAT, which he charged the THA. The fine and the repayment are to be made within six months.

In the event that owner of Trinbago General Supplies and Services fails to meet the deadlines; he will face two months in prison for the unpaid fine and two additional months for failing to repay the BIR.

This investigation was conducted by the Criminal Tax Investigation Unit, Inland Revenue Division and led by Mr. Mansie Williams, Criminal Tax Investigator II.